December 30

     There are times when we just don’t understand. I have passages marked in my Bible that I don’t understand, and they have been there for years. One day I will understand. A concept that I, and others, don’t understand is, “Why is there suffering”. Of course I can come up with answers that suit me, but I dare not say I fully understand, because I don’t. One day I will understand.

      What we note from the passage here is that Mary didn’t understand, and that it would be years before she did understand. What she did do, and it is Luke who tells us this, is that she treasured up all the events surrounding the birth of Jesus in her heart. She was an eye-witness of the events, she understood that events had happened but she did not understand the importance of those events.

      The disciples were in a similar position. John 20 contains the description of the events on the Sunday morning when they found the empty tomb.

 “So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped round Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)”

     They didn’t understand – after 3 years of being with Jesus! He had given practical instruction, Jesus had told them parables. There is no doubt that He had shared Old Testament Scriptures with them and explained those passages. They had heard sermons. What more could they want?

     There are times when we experience events and don’t understand them, but we have to wait until the right time to understand. There are times when we sit at the feet of great and wise scholars who explain the word of God accurately and still have little understanding.

      What do we do? A few suggestions follow. Treasure up the events, keep a record, write things down. Make notes in the margin of your Bible. Remember you are the eyewitness of a great event and bear in mind the importance of the event.

      Two, don’t consider yourself useless for not understanding. Even Mary, even Peter, even John, with all their first-hand experience didn’t understand.

      Three, recognise that you are in a particularly favourable position that none of these worthies enjoyed. You have the Holy Spirit to bring all these things to your memory and understanding

      In other words, take the time to get a little perspective, and once again ask the Holy Spirit to give you the guidance you need.